Johnny Campbell, Angeline Morrison, Backalong & The WAD Morris

Johnny Campbell

''A Modern-Day Billy Bragg'' - Tradfolk

The album From Hull & Halifax & Hell (2020) took him to The Faroe Islands where he recorded a live album on the island of Nolsoy. Since musical instruments hadn't arrived on the islands until the 19th century, this is perhaps the first time Northern English traditional song has been recorded on these islands.

This album earned him album of the week with Blues and Roots radio

and reviews with British folk press:

• ''The spirit of the folk clubs in their heyday runs in his veins'' Folking.com
• ''I defy anyone not to be galvanised by the total integrity of his exceptional rendition of (Ewan MacColl's) Moving On Song'' The Living Tradition
• ''A truly entertaining work. Lose yourself in the true folk experience'' Fatea Magazine

Angeline Morrison

The rising star of Traditional Folk – whose spiritual guidance, is the Cornish landscape and monuments around her, as well as her African heritage which plays a huge part in her traditional folk songwriting.

The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience (released October 2022, Topic Records) is a work of re-storying. The historic Black presence in Britain dates back to at least Roman times, yet is often hidden, forgotten or unacknowledged. Our Black British ancestors have no surviving body of folk song that speaks to their lives and experiences. The Sorrow Songs begins to address this. It is a gift to the forgotten Black ancestors of these islands, and to the folk community here today. The album uses history and imagination to tell stories of the Black ancestors of Old Albion, in the sonic style of traditional and folk music.

The generous support of Arts Council England, Help Musicians UK & The English Folk Dance and Song Society is gratefully acknowledged here, for The Sorrow Songs album, research and tour.

Backalong

Folk duo Josh Barrett & Neil McMahon

Following the release of their first full album ‘Hitching Ships’, Neil brought together musicians from all over the Cornwall to form a series of line-ups for their album launch. The sold-out event was such a great success that all three groups are now in high demand!

Josh founded and runs The Moth & The Moon sessions in Falmouth which allows a wonderful mix of abilities and is supported by some of the best musicians and singers in Cornwall, it’s status in the world of Tradional Sessions has risen year on year. He is also (along with Neil) a driving force in the rise of Cornish folk music and is a member of the band ‘Bagas Fellyon’, unusually he plays bass, they say his funky style adds a new depth to Nos Lowen music.

WAD Morris

The WAD is a Falmouth-based prog-Morris dancing side named after Joan the Wad, Queen of the Cornish Piskies.

Cornish folklore suggests that Joan the WAD would light people to safety, or sometimes peril, across the Cornish moors. The word ‘wad’ is often recorded as an old Cornish colloquial term for ‘torch’ or bundle of straw. Joan the WAD is now seen as a good luck charm to many.

Taking inspiration from Cornish folklore and Joan's feisty and fiery nature, our all-female Morris side brings Joan the WAD energy and a modern, progressive take to a mixture of traditional border and cotswold dances.

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'Good fortune will nod, if you carry upon you Joan the Wad.’

Host or Publisher Fish Factory Arts